Apparatus and method for feeding an animal

Abstract

A feeding apparatus includes a container for, in use, containing food for an animal. The container has a side wall through which a slot is defined, the slot extending between closed upper and lower ends of the slot. In use, a feeding restrictor rests on top of the food in the container. A retaining element is positioned outside the container and is movably engageable with an outer portion or surface of the container side wall. The feeding restrictor is coupled to the retaining element before the animal starts to feed, and moves downwardly, guided by the slot, as the animal eats the food. The feeding restrictor can then be uncoupled from the retaining element after the food is eaten, and withdrawn from the container to allow further food to be placed in the container.

Description

[0001]The invention relates to an apparatus and method for feeding an animal, and in particular to a slow-feeding apparatus and method for feeding an animal, such as a horse.[0002]Horses are commonly fed loose forage, such as hay, haylage, other derivatives of hay, straw, or mixed forage, either directly off the ground, from hay nets or from hay racks. Most stabled horses tend to eat their food rapidly, and then spend time inactive in their stable. This does not reflect the natural grazing behaviour of a horse and can cause serious digestive, metabolic and behavioural problems. Similar problems may arise for other types of animal.[0003]A slow feeder is an apparatus for reducing the rate at which an animal feeds, to reflect more closely the natural feeding pattern of the animal and so to avoid health problems which arise when an animal feeds too rapidly.[0004]A conventional slow feeder comprises a container for forage, such as hay, with an open upper end. A feeding restrictor rests o...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes a device called a slow feeder that helps animals eat food more slowly, which reduces the risk of health problems. In the past, these devices had guide bars or rods that could get stuck or take up space in the device. However, the new invention eliminates these fixed structures, making the device larger and easier to clean.

Problems solved by technology

Most stabled horses tend to eat their food rapidly, and then spend time inactive in their stable.

This does not reflect the natural grazing behaviour of a horse and can cause serious digestive, metabolic and behavioural problems.

Similar problems may arise for other types of animal.

Various approaches to the design of slow feeders have been used, but problems have arisen with all such designs to date.

In fact, as found in the inventors' tests of existing slow feeders, many such feeders do not even restrict the rate at which an animal consumes fodder by comparison with eating the same fodder from an open container, and so cannot even be considered to be slow feeders.

In conventional slow feeder designs, one common problem is that the restrictor may fail to move freely downwards within the slow-feeder container as the forage is consumed.

For example, the restrictor may jam, or get stuck, at an intermediate point before all of the forage is consumed.

This is a problem because, if and when the restrictor jams, the animal is prevented from eating further forage.

This problem is often caused if an animal feeds from only one side of the container, so that the restrictor tilts within the container.

But the problem remains that the restrictor tends to tilt and jam in place against the guide bar(s), or may be blocked by forage caught between the guide bar(s) and the restrictor, before all of the forage is eaten.

This slow feeder design solves the problem of the feeding restrictor tilting and jamming, but a further problem arises.

This is a disadvantageously inconvenient process, and when the rim is removed the side wall segments of the container are unsupported at their upper ends, and so are vulnerable to damage.

Further problems arise in the design of slow feeders.

This may particularly affect animals such as horses which commonly are nervous.

Slow feeders can often cause such problems because eating food through a feeding restrictor is not a familiar or comfortable arrangement for many animals.

Also, as noted above, conventional slow feeders fail in practice to restrict the rate at which an animal feeds, because the feeding restrictor fails to reduce the rate of consumption of the fodder by comparison to a feeding from an open container with no feeding restrictor.

This presents a problem, because the digestive, metabolic and behavioural problems caused by excessively rapid feeding are not prevented.

Images